What is Self-inquiry

“Know Thyself”, Temple of Apollo at Delphi

Self-inquiry was first proposed as a method of discovering our true nature by the Indian saint Sri Ramana Maharshi. His method advised that one start by asking the very simple question “Who am I?”. This question could be further broken down into the following investigations:  “Am I my mind/thoughts?”, “Am I my physical body?” and “Am I my emotions?”.

Given that your thoughts, mind, and body are in constant change (you will not finish even reading this page with the same thoughts, body or emotions that you started), how can you truly be any of these things? In effect, Ramana suggested using the mind to defeat the mind by examining the assumptions that the mind, meditating on each one, seeing through each one. Having eliminated these options, if I am not my body, mind or emotions,  what is left that does not change?

This simple but powerful method leads one deeper into the voyage of self-discovery. The very essence of self-inquiry is to see what is false and then to discover what remains – what is untouched and unchanged, what is already free.